Obituary of Reverend Timothy J. Stein

The Reverend Timothy J. Stein, former pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Cambridge, died in hospice on July 31st. The cause of death was metastatic pancreatic cancer. He was 74 years old. Tim was born in Chicago and grew up in Willmette, Salt Lake City and Denver. He graduated from Cherry Creek high school and was Class of 1969 at Dartmouth, where he studied printing with Ray Nash. After graduation Tim went to work as a pressman at David Godine Publishing, where he met his future wife. He is known in computer circles as the developer of some of the first text justification and hyphenation programs, working for Digital Equipment Corporation on newspaper automation software which was subsequently installed in several national newspapers. Tim left Digital to start a new business with a partner, Jack Nevison, training executives to use personal computers for analysis and modeling. A volunteer opportunity at a fathers’ group in the Concord prisons was the impetus for a new direction. He enrolled at Harvard Divinity School, earning his Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained in the Lutheran Church in June of 1998 and.served in East Boston at Our Saviors. Subsequently he was called to Faith Lutheran, where he served for 15 years. At the time he was called, Faith was facing an uncertain future with few members and a looming budget deficit. Under Pastor Stein’s care, the church grew into a lively, intellectually and spiritually curious community enthusiastic about the church and its future.He is remembered by many as caring and thoughtful pastor who mentored many student interns who later went on to become ministers themselves. He deeply loved his church and its people, Tim served as dean of the Boston Metro Conference of the New England Synod of the ELCA and denominational counselor to the Lutheran students at Harvard Divinity School, a role that constantly delighted him. In retirement Tim served as interim pastor at Good Shepherd in Quincy. He also began a new project, a non-profit he called Verse 4, to help struggling congregations find ways to see their sometimes burdensome properties as resources for mission. Tim is survived by his wife of 49 years, Jeanne Garrison, sons Benjamin and Nathaniel, daughters-in-law Alissa Mears and Dr. Susan Stein, and grandsons Gus, Rafe, Nicholas , Evander, Perry and Oren. Also by his brother and sisters: Terri Last, Rev. Mary Stein- Webber, Thomas Stein, Patricia Stein-Cartford, their spouses, and six nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church, 311 Broadway in Cambridge, on Saturday, September 24 at one p.m. Instead of flowers, donations in Tims’s memory can be made to the Outdoor Church, Faith Kitchen or financial support for students at HDS.